Moving to a new house can be an incredibly stressful experience. This is true even when moving within the same city, but the whole process can become much more challenging when you’re facing a long-distance move. With the average cost of moving between states at around $5,600, moving long distances can also be extremely expensive. Still, it is something most everyone will have to face at some point in their life. US Census data shows that, on average, anywhere from 10 to 20 percent of Americans will move in a given year.

The good news is that there are a number of ways that you can both cut down on the stress associated with your move and also work to minimize any additional expenses you could face as a result. In this sense, making sure all of your furniture is well protected for the move can both give you additional peace of mind and also prevent you from facing expensive repairs or needing to replace any of your furniture once you reach your new home. Therefore, it is highly recommended you follow these tips to ensure your furniture stays safe throughout the moving process.

Dismantle any furniture you can.

Large, bulky pieces of furniture are obviously more difficult to carry, and this can increase the chances of it becoming damaged during the move. This is why it’s a good idea to dismantle or take apart any items you can to make them both easier to pack and carry. In addition, this method can also help you save valuable space in the moving truck even if all the items will still weigh the same.

Clean and prepare for packing.

It’s always a good idea to clean absolutely everything before you pack it away for your move, and this includes all of your furniture. For starters, this will obviously help prevent you from tracking so much dirt, dust, and debris into your new home. Still, the bigger benefit is that it also helps to prevent your furniture from scratches during the move. Dust and other debris left behind will become trapped between the furniture and the packing material, and this will usually result in some scratching if you don’t clean everything thoroughly beforehand.

Wrap and protect each item carefully.

Different types of furniture and different materials will require different treatment and packing methods. For instance, sofas, armchairs, mattresses and other similar furniture are always best with a plastic cover designed specifically for it. Plastic wrap is another choice for any items with fabric or upholstery.

Wooden items obviously require special care. In this case, bubble wrap is a good option to protect wood and other delicate items from scratches, dents, and dings. As well, you should always consider placing pieces of corrugated cardboard between each piece of furniture as you put in the moving truck as this will help to prevent damage caused by the pieces rubbing against each other.

Use the right packaging supplies.

Properly packing furniture for a move begins with using the right materials. Blankets, bubble wrap, cardboard, and plastic coverings for furniture are the essentials for proper packing. Wooden furniture needs special attention when packing. Bubble wrap and blankets are an excellent choice for wrapping and protecting wooden furniture before moving. Make sure all wrapping is held securely with a strong tape such as packing or duct tape.

Load a moving truck properly to protect your furniture.

If you want your furniture to survive a move unscathed, properly loading your moving truck is just as important as proper packing. Planning is vital when it comes to loading. Here are some tips for packing a moving truck to avoid damaging furniture.

• Make sure all items are cleaned, wrapped, and protected before loading.
• Load large, heavy items first and place them against the far wall of the truck closest to the cab.
• Load longer items next, such as mattresses, headboards, and sofas. Place these items against the longest wall of the truck to keep them upright and help save space.
• Load boxes last beginning with the bulkiest boxes. Make sure the vehicle is tight inside to prevent items from falling or moving during transport.

Load and unload furniture with help.

A lot of damage done to furniture occurs during the loading, transport, and unloading process. Loading your moving truck correctly and packing items the right way will ensure no damage occurs during transport. When loading and unloading, always get help with large, bulky items and place items in the correct room after unloading them. The less you move objects, the lower the chance of damaging them.

Be prepared when you arrive at your new home.

It’s also important that you properly prepare for once your furniture arrives at your new home. Knowing where every piece of furniture should help to prevent potential damage caused by repeatedly having to move everything around your new house. In addition, you need to pay close attention when unwrapping all of your items and putting it all back together. After all, you don’t want to scratch or otherwise damage your item unwrapping it after it’s made it the rest of the way unscathed.

At the end of the day, protecting your furniture during a long-distance move often comes down to how good of a job you do packing it all. Of course, your choice of moving company can be equally as important. In this sense, it is essential that you don’t trust your valuable belongings to just any moving company if you want to ensure your move goes smoothly and your items arrive at your new house intact.